19 Jun 2023

Miss Global Beauty Botswana Katlego Matheakgomo will be the first local queen to contest for the Miss Teen Global International crown during the finale billed for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in October 22-29.

When launching the 16-year-old for the desired title on Saturday, businesswoman, poet and singer Keotshepile Motsewanageng alias Berry Heart wished Katlego well, and advised her to believe in herself and understand her origins.

Berry Heart told the queen that being  proud of her origin would set her apart and make her unique.  

Additionally, Berry Heart cautioned Matheakgomo not to be intimidated by her competitors , instead she said  ‘you should walk with your her head held high.’ 

Sharing her own story, Berry Heart said being brought up from the settlement of Magagarape did not deter her from being who she is today.

She assured the beauty queen that she would sponsor her wardrobe from her fashion range, Berry Heart Creations for the global spectacle.

The beauty queen Matheakgomo thanked everyone for the well wishes.

About her pageant project, Out of Shadows from Prejudice to Hope, Matheakgomo said it was geared towards Epilepsy patients, with out of shadows meaning that she was coming out to the public to empower others, who might be going through the same.

“From Prejudice means I am dealing with the intolerance that epilepsy patients face,” she said.

As part of the project, the beauty queen has been going to different schools to teach other students about Epilepsy and how she was positively living with it.

She participated in World Epilepsy Day also known as Purple Day to motivate people about Epilepsy.

During her motivational speeches Matheakgomo said she believed her condition motivated her to achieve her dreams: being a beauty queen. 

As an epileptic, she said, one would expect her to be in a state of despair but nope! she participated in a global beauty pageant and  won the tittle to represent Botswana.   This, she said was a testament that her condition does not define her. 

“My mission is to teach people more about epilepsy in order to reduce stigma,” she said. Ends